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Aarbecht a Beruff

A2

Work & occupation

Talk about your job, your workplace, your colleagues and what a typical working day looks like.

Vocabulary

  • the work / the job
    Meng Aarbecht ass interessant. — My work is interesting.
  • the profession
    Wat ass Äre Beruff? — What is your profession?
  • to work
    Ech schaffe bei enger Bank. — I work at a bank.
    The everyday verb for 'to work' (more common than 'aarbechten').
  • the colleague / mate
    Ech verstinn mech gutt mat menge Kollegen. — I get along well with my colleagues.
    Also used more broadly for a male friend or 'mate'.
  • the boss
    Mäi Chef ass gerecht. — My boss is fair.
  • the office
    Ech schaffen an engem Büro. — I work in an office.
  • the company
    Meng Firma ass am Zentrum vun der Stad. — My company is in the city centre.
  • the wage / salary
    De Loun ass net schlecht. — The salary is not bad.
  • the meeting
    Mir hunn all Méindeg eng Reunioun. — We have a meeting every Monday.
  • to earn
    Ech verdénge genuch, fir gutt ze liewen. — I earn enough to live well.
    Perfect with hunn: Ech hunn dat Joer gutt verdéngt.

Grammar that powers this topic

Verb-second word order
Front a time phrase and keep the verb second: 'Virun dräi Joer hunn ech d'Aarbecht gewiesselt.'
Separable verbs
The prefix jumps to the end of the clause: 'Ech fänken um aacht Auer un.'
Modal verbs
muss, kann, wëll + an infinitive at the very end — essential for saying what a job involves.

Your ~5-minute answer

Tier 2 · your target (A2)
  • Ech schaffen als Comptabel bei enger Bank.
  • Meng Firma ass am Zentrum vun der Stad.
  • Ech fänke moies um aacht un a schaffe bis fënnef.
  • Meng Kollegen si ganz frëndlech, an ech versti mech gutt mat hinnen.
  • Virun dräi Joer hunn ech d'Aarbecht gewiesselt.
  • D'Aarbecht ass heiansdo stresseg, mee ech maache se gär.
▸Tier 3 · if you freeze (survival floor)
  • Ech schaffen als Comptabel.
  • Ech schaffe bei enger Bank.
  • Meng Aarbecht ass interessant.
  • Ech schaffe vu moies bis owes.
▸Tier 1 · for awareness only — don't drill this
  • Och wann d'Aarbecht heiansdo vill Stress mat sech bréngt, sinn ech frou, datt ech e séchere Job hunn.
  • Wat mir un menger Aarbecht am beschte gefält, ass de Kontakt mat de Leit.

Could you say this out loud right now?

Examiner follow-ups (formal Dir/Är)

This is where interactivity and consistency points are won or lost. Practise the answers, not just the monologue.

Q

Wat schafft Dir vu Beruff?

What do you do for a living?

↳ keep this consistent with your “job” story

Q

Gefält Iech Är Aarbecht?

Do you like your work?

↳ keep this consistent with your “job” story

Q

Wéi verstitt Dir Iech mat Äre Kollegen?

How do you get along with your colleagues?

↳ keep this consistent with your “job” story

Q

Wëllt Dir an dësem Beruff bleiwen?

Do you want to stay in this profession?

↳ keep this consistent with your “job” story

Escape-hatch phrases (anti-freeze)

  • Wéi kann ech dat am beschten erklären?

    How can I best explain that?

  • Dat huet mat menger Aarbecht ze dinn.

    That has to do with my work.

  • Ech schaffen an engem Beräich, wou …

    I work in a field where …

  • Ech fannen elo net dat richtegt Wuert, entschëllegt.

    I can't find the right word right now, sorry.

  • Op Franséisch géif een dat … nennen.

    In French you would call that …